Donkey Kong

Imagine a time when chat rooms were actual social gatherings. An era in which $1.75 could buy two "frozen cups", a Chico Stick, a box of Boston Baked Beans, Lemonheads, and a bag of Hot Fries from the candy lady. Games were played primarily outside and Solitaire was played with real playing cards. Look briefly over your right shoulder to glance at nostalgia. The year of 1987:

3 Men and a Baby was the #1 box office smash in theaters.
Postage stamps were twenty-four cents
Television programs 21 Jump Street, Matlock, and Duck Tales had debuts.
Prozac debuts in the U. S.
Vinny Testaverde was selected first overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL Draft.
Fox Broadcasting Co. aired for the first time on prime time television.
Hollywood celebrities Bow Wow and Hillary Duff were born.
Ronald Reagan was President.
David Robinson was the #1 overall pick in the NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs.
"Love you down" by Ready For The World was the #1 single on Billboard.
Gas was eighty-nine cents per gallon.
The Miami Hurricanes won the National Championship in football by defeating Oklahoma 20-14.
Disposable contact lenses hit the market for commercial distribution.
The Simpsons aired for the first time on The Tracey Ullman Show.

Some long for the past. A time when there was no internet or mp3 players, just stonewashed jean-jackets and Panasonic double cassette players. If everyone can remain aware of the past without dwelling, while focusing on the present, the future should be bodacious.

Oliver "Ollie Lang" Gonzales

Order two helmets, eight to ten cases of ammunition, ten pounds of Shih tzu, a custom crimson- colored Project Salvo AR-15 Tactical paintball gun, and a new hopper case. What's missing?

 Meet Oliver, the shih tzu with the perfect mixture of accuracy, athleticism, and saliva.  The ever- excitable pup remains in control of his emotions at all times while entertaining the room through nonverbal communication. Above, the mellow morsel has just polished off the tennis competition in dominating fashion, winning in straight sets to love. Exhausted? Hardly. The young Gonzales was just getting started.

 There aren't a great abundance of terms that can describe the legacy of Oliver. Perhaps epic. Maybe even mammoth. Going foward, there is a star among us. Please, no flash photography.

Four Wins Away

Only one can call themselves champion. The other thirty-one, unfortunately, cannot. While pretending not to acknowledge the past, the champion of 2008 Boston Celtics and defending champion Los Angeles Lakers attempt to focus solely on game one of the NBA Finals.

In brevity, this series match up will be dependent on defensive intensity. The fact that Lakers center Andrew Bynum had fluid drained from his knee and his progress in mobility still didn't improve has to be a non-factor. The monumental-like presence of Celtics Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins in the front court cannot phase Pau Gasol following elbow after elbow to the ribs and chest. The athletic prowess on both ends of the court by guard Rajon Rondo must not be a problem.

Key components must be present in order for the Lakers to repeat as champion. If not, 2010's version of the NBA Finals could end with Boston winning in six games like two years ago.

However, according to number twenty-four, this series could also end with Lakers in seven as well.